Tuesday, November 6, 2018

In the News: "That’s what it’s about, thinking about it differently"

"A developer plans to build 53 new single-family homes on what is Schmidt’s Farm at 215 Prospect St., according to plans submitted to the Department of Planning and Community Development.

Maddi North Street Development LLC wants to build the homes on 114.5 acres in a subdivision called Prospect Farms.

The homes would be built along a new 6,650-foot horseshoe-shaped road, with a small side street reconnecting with the main one. The main road would connect Prospect Street to Nicholas Drive , according to the plans."

"In Massachusetts, about 120,000 people are living with dementia of some variety.

In Franklin an estimated 13 percent of citizens over 65, or about 548 people, have been diagnosed with the disease and according to director at the Franklin Senior Center Karen Alves, that number is expected to grow over the next decade.

“We want a community that is respectful and aware of dementia, folks who are living with it, and their caregivers,” Alves said. “We’re looking to reduce the stigma of dementia, as well as the social isolation that folks that are living with it experience.”

The senior center is now taking steps for the town to become one of the municipalities in the state that will have official Dementia Friendly Community status. The facility was recently awarded a grant of $12,000 and is now putting the money to work to ease the lives of people living with dementia and their caretakers."